Question
dying orchid
Please help...I just received an orchid from my grandmother. She got it as a gift last holiday season and it was a very large, healthy plant then. About 32 flowers on it, just gorgeous. I have no idea what kind it is. I plan to pick up some bark/moss medium this afternoon and attempt to repot the still-semi-healthy part of the plant. What steps should I take to ensure it the best chance of survival? I have read some e-help articles about orchid care and repotting. But I am still at a loss. Only 3 of the 10-12 psuedobulbs are still alive. The rest seem to have succumbed to root rot...the bulbs are empty and brown. The healthy bulbs seem to be changing colors as well. I really want to save this plant. How should I go about doing so? I have attached some pics to give you an idea of the situation. Thank you for helping me save this beautiful plant!
AnswerNatasha, from the picture, your plant appears to be a cymbidium orchid. Do not use moss as part of your potting mix. Use the orchid potting mix that has some fir bark in it. It definitely needs to be repotted. Use a plastic pot that has lots of air holes in the botttom for repotting. Wet the fir bark based potting mix prior to use. When you unpot the plant, rinse off the roots and remove any that are stringy. Healthy orchid roots are firm and turn green when wet. Do not overpot but choose a pot size that will just fit the roots. As you insert the roots into the new pot, rotate the pot so as to allow the roots to follow the inside walls of the pot. This minimizes root damage. Tap the sides of the pot as you add the fresh potting mix to help distribute it amongst the roots. I recommend setting it outside in a semishaded location. As it recovers, you can move it into nearly full sun-- it takes time to adapt. Let it dry out between waterings-- it should not be kept wet. It will like being outside so don't be in a hurry to bring it inside. It likes bright light, so even when you bring it in, provide the brightest light possible. It can tolerate temperatures into the 40's. When frost threatens, bring it in until the weather warms and then set it back out. It will take weeks to months to begin to recover and produce new growth so don't be in a hurry to see results. When in doubt, withhold watering. More plants are lost by overwatering. Moss holds too much water and, over time, can compact. That is why I advise that you not use that. Your plant is in an especially vulnerable status and being kept too wet will destroy what remains of the plant. The bottom of the pseudobulb should be positioned that all of the roots are in the potting mix but not the pseudobulb.
